Strawberry cultivation has received a boost in Uttarakhand's Chajji district, with researchers finding the region's climate is ideal for growing Dutch strawberries which can provide much higher yields than other varieties.
Tests were recently conducted in a polyhouse at Chajji Floriculture Park and experts at the facility were impressed by the yields.
Production of the Dutch strawberries would be lucrative for the state's farmers because the fruit produced is large, and the height of the plants mean more fruiting, according to Sanjay Sinha, the facility's technical advisor.
"If the proper way is followed for the cultivation, the plants give more fruit. The basic difference between this cultivation and other varieties is that farmers can reap three crops in a year compared to one crop a year in other varieties," said Vinod Kumar, an agriculture expert at Chajji Floriculture Park.
The state's Horticulture Department plans to make Uttarakhand a hub for strawberry cultivation, and has organised training seminars for growers.
